The Secretary-General of the Union of Arab Chambers, His Excellency Dr. Khaled Hanafi, received at the headquarters of the Union of Arab Chambers in Beirut, the Minister of Environment of the Lebanese Republic, His Excellency Dr. Nasser Yassin, accompanied by the Executive Director of the Arab Bureau for Agricultural Entrepreneurship, Dr. Imad Hamdan, and in the presence of the Director of the Arab, Foreign and Joint Chambers of the Union of Arab Chambers, Hoda Kashtan.
During the meeting, they discussed mechanisms to enhance the role of the "Arab Environment Facility", which was approved at the Arab Summit in 2005, and Beirut - Lebanese Republic was chosen as its headquarters, with the aim of enhancing the reality of "green economy", "participatory economy" and "sharing economy" in Arab countries.
At the beginning of the meeting, the Secretary-General of the Union welcomed His Excellency the Minister of Environment Nasser Yassin, noting Lebanon's pioneering role in its Arab environment, saying: We are proud of the presence of the headquarters of the General Secretariat of the Union of Arab Chambers in Beirut since the inception of the Union in 1951.
The Minister of Environment then talked about how and ways to enhance cooperation with the Union of Arab Chambers, "which represents the Arab private sector", referring to the possibility of opening horizons for cooperation with the Union through the door of the "Arab Environment Facility". Explaining "the Arab Environment Facility aims to confront environmental problems of Arab and sub-regional regional specificity, as well as national problems whose effects extend to neighboring Arab countries, as well as rationalizing the use of natural resources. It also focuses on presenting regional and sub-regional projects to rationalize the use of resources, implement cleaner production, control energy, as well as promote the use of renewable energy, and address the problem of water scarcity."
He stressed, "The facility contributes to the development of research and scientific cooperation, to develop and localize seawater desalination technologies, and to address the consequences of climate change, and other environmental goals". Saying: "We now have signatures from 12 Arab countries and 6 ratifying countries," noting that the agreement stipulates its entry into force after ratification by seven Arab countries. He pointed out that there are promises from some Arab countries that signed the agreement to ratify, and then the establishment will be circulated to the Arab countries in order to appoint a director general of the facility in accordance with the statute, with the selection of Beirut as the headquarters of the Arab Environment Facility.
Minister Yassin suggested the need to strengthen coordination with the Arab private sector by organizing a specialized workshop at the headquarters of the Union of Arab Chambers, which includes Arab Ministers of Environment, and in the presence of the Secretary-General of the League of Arab States, His Excellency Dr. Ahmed Aboul Gheit.
The Secretary-General of the Union noted the importance of the role of the "Arab Environment Facility", especially in light of the shift towards promoting the reality of the "green economy", "participatory economy" and "circular economy" by most countries of the world, in order to preserve the environment and promote investments in the environmental sector. This will greatly affect the development reality, especially in the Arab countries.
His Excellency Khaled Hanafi expressed his full readiness to cooperate with the Ministry of Environment in Lebanon and other relevant Arab ministries and authorities, in order for the "Arab Environment Facility" to see the light at the earliest possible opportunity.
During the meeting, it was agreed to develop a vision and roadmap for the "Arab Environment Facility", starting with organizing a workshop on this subject, and issuing recommendations in this regard in order to submit them to the Arab Ministerial Council for the Environment. Afterward presenting the recommendations to the COP28 conference to be held in the United Arab Emirates in the coming period. Provided that they are officially presented to Arab kings, leaders, leaders, and presidents at the Development Summit: Economic and Social to be held in the Republic of Mauritania so that the final decision will be taken on the establishment and activation of the role of the "Arab Environment Facility".
The proposed ministerial workshop also aims to discuss regional project proposals aimed at strengthening the commitments of the Arab Group towards the Paris Climate Conference by submitting, on behalf of the Arab Group, a number of projects to be financed by international funds concerned with the carbon economy and green economy. Which at the same time contribute to achieving sustainable development, especially in rural areas. The second ministerial workshop will be dedicated to discussing ways to activate the Arab environmental facility.
Source (Union of Arab Chambers)
